Want to be sure I'm interpreting Westjet's "flexible cancellation/change policy" correctly.

[peacefrogdog]

Looking to rebook flights for July 2020 (have a cruise booked then):

Just saw on the Westjet page:

Coronavirus - new flights, booked March 3 - March 31, 2020

March 3, 2020 - February 25, 2021

March 21, 2020

Flexible change/cancel info Change or cancel online at least 24 hours prior to departure

Then under the Flexible change/cancel info:

• All new flight bookings made between March 3, 2020 and March 31, 2020 will be allowed a one-time change fee waiver.
• The one-time fee waiver is available for any itinerary change or cancellation made more than 24 hours from departure.

...
Changes or cancellations more than 24 hours from purchase, will be returned as a Travel Bank credit, valid for 24 months from date of issue. We are not processing refunds to original form of payment at this time. We will update this information when it is available. For changes or cancellations within 24 hours of travel, standard change and cancel fee rules apply.


So I book a new flight now, and then have to cancel, that as long as a cancel at least 24 hours before, that they will issue me a travel credit (without having to pay fees). As I type this I realize this may seem obvious, but just want to be sure I'm not missing any fine print here.

 

[FigmentSpark]

You might want to confirm how long the travel credit is valid for. Is there a time limit? Of course all is assuming West Jet can stay in business.

 

[Aug2020distrip]

That’s how I’m reading. I just booked a flight today for our trip. This extra coverage plus the companion voucher going up April 1 (I think?) is why we decided to just book. Worse comes to worse we push the dates back, but I’m remaining hopeful for August. We will see.

 

[peacefrogdog]

You might want to confirm how long the travel credit is valid for. Is there a time limit? Of course all is assuming West Jet can stay in business.

The webpage notice says the travel credit has to be used within 24 months. Sounds pretty good actually.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That sounds reasonable. I was thinking it might be only 12 months.

 

[bcwife76]

That sounds reasonable. I was thinking it might be only 12 months.

I heard it was only 12 months too but I'm thinking that was a few weeks ago when all the sh*t was just starting to hit the fan, now it looks like a more generous 24 months.

 

[peacefrogdog]

Hmm... now seeing this on another part of their website, regarding booking the Basic fares (the cheapest option):

"Basic fares:

• departing in March and April can be cancelled online for $0 cancellation fee. The value of your flights will be returned to your Travel Bank.
• booked after March 3 can be cancelled online for a $0 fee with the value of your flights returned to your Travel Bank.
• booked before March 3 that depart after April 30 cannot be cancelled. 

If you made a Basic booking before March 3, you’ll have up to 2 hours before your flight to take advantage of our current flexible change/cancel policy. If you made a booking between March 3-31, you'll have up to 24 hours before your flight to take advantage of our current flexible change/cancel policy."

I sent them a message on Twitter to clarify whether booking a Basic fare can still be exempt from the cancellation/change fee.

 

[peacefrogdog]

So whoever is managing their Twitter feed is suggesting that only flights booked March 3rd or before are except from the change/cancellation fee waiver, which is contrary to what is currently written on their website (see last row of the table that was posted March 21).

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/advisories#exp-1462317543748-1-item-1-pos-1
Sounds like it is not firmly established what is and is not allowed, so buyer beware (for now at least)

 

[Sue M]

I use Alaska being on the west coast and close to SeaTac which is their hub. They have a pretty good cancellation or rebooking policy too.

But just my opinion, if people have to cancel (not rebooking) because of a global pandemic I feel you should get a cash refund on the card you used. Who knows what airlines will be operational after all this? Many large airlines have gone. Remember Canadian Airlines, Pan Pacific, TWA, Eastern..........

 

[peacefrogdog]

Airlines refunding everyone makes it harder to stay afloat. By giving a credit, it gives them the capital and money coming in to help stay ahead of the game.

BTW: the rep (via Twitter, for what that's worth) told me that even Basic fare bookings made between 3/3 and 3/31 will be exempt from cancellation fees.

 

[Sue M]

Airlines refunding everyone makes it harder to stay afloat. By giving a credit, it gives them the capital and money coming in to help stay ahead of the game.

BTW: the rep (via Twitter, for what that's worth) told me that even Basic fare bookings made between 3/3 and 3/31 will be exempt from cancellation fees.

That’s true, but what happens to your money if airline goes under?

 

[uandmfan]

I believe if it goes under the credit card company will refund you. This happened to people I knew about 15 years ago when one of the charters went under.

 

[peacefrogdog]

With Westjet being part of a duopoly here in Canada, I would think the government would do a bail out before it went under. Hopefully!

 

[Donald - my hero]

hate to be the bearer of bad news to those who are hoping for a refund but CTA issued a statement that states airlines are no longer obligated to do that
https://simpleflying.com/canadian-airline-refunds-cancelled-flights/

 

[uandmfan]

I booked a flight to Toronto on March 10 or 11. It was basic fare. At that point, we had to rebook 14 days prior to travel to avoid the fee.

Well, we are obviously not going to Toronto. I filled out the cancellation form last week- just about 3 weeks before travel - and was notified today that the money I paid (a combination of credit card and WJ dollars) were refunded to my travel bank and must be used in 24 months. This is better than what I expected based on the wording when I booked.

 

[peacefrogdog]

Update:

I bit the bucket and booked a flight for July at the basic fare.
When the price went down some more, I was able to cancel it online and immediately got money in my travel bank without penalty. I was then able to rebook online at the lower rate, pay with my travel bank, and got a new reservation code.

how strict WestJet will be with its statement of a“one time cancellation fee waiver” remains to be seen. But with a new reservation code I hope I will still be able to cancel without the fee.

 

[mort1331]

Good luck

 

[TinkFan74]

I canceled flights with West Jet yesterday for flights in May, I was able to get a travel credit for the full amount that is good for two years from the date you booked.

 

[bcwife76]

I canceled flights with West Jet yesterday for flights in May, I was able to get a travel credit for the full amount that is good for two years from the date you booked.

Oh that's great news! So how far down the road is WJ offering this 'one time cancel no penalty/travel credit' offer I wonder? We have a cruise booked the end of August that I'm really not sure about, but we already have airfare booked. Wonder if they will honour that policy so far out or if I have to be a bit closer to my travel date? Right now we are still weeks away from our PIF date for the cruise so if I were to cancel I'd still get everything back.

 

[TinkFan74]

Oh that's great news! So how far down the road is WJ offering this 'one time cancel no penalty/travel credit' offer I wonder? We have a cruise booked the end of August that I'm really not sure about, but we already have airfare booked. Wonder if they will honour that policy so far out or if I have to be a bit closer to my travel date? Right now we are still weeks away from our PIF date for the cruise so if I were to cancel I'd still get everything back.

At this time is is for flights in March, April, and May.